SPAIN – Tetra Pak has entered into a collaboration agreement with Alier, a paper manufacturing and waste recovery company, to facilitate the recycling of polyethylene (PE) and aluminum from beverage cardboard containers in Spain.
Both companies will collaborate to strengthen the recycling of PE and aluminum obtained from used beverage cartons, with the goal of recycling more than 15,000 tonnes by 2025.
The recovered PE and aluminum waste undergo a recycling process, transforming them into pellets. These pellets serve as secondary raw materials with diverse applications across various industries.
Ramiro Ortiz, the managing director of Tetra Pak Iberia, states, “Our objective is to enhance recycling outcomes in Spain and achieve complete packaging recycling in a sustainable manner.
“The signing of this agreement makes us very proud because it demonstrates our mutual commitment to material circularity and the advantages of collaborative innovation in its implementation.”
The recycling process initially involves recovered waste to be mechanically washed, allowing the disaggregation of several fractions of the waste.
It is followed by the processing of waste material by an extruder machine that finally produces PE and aluminium pellets.
Ortiz continued, “Thus, we take another step to respond to the EU’s objective of recycling and efficient waste management, and we are increasingly closer to fulfilling our main ambition: Achieving cardboard packaging for F&B made entirely from renewable or recycled materials, responsibly sourced, fully recyclable and carbon neutral.
“This project aligns with our desire to contribute to decarbonizing the Spanish food chain, of which our packaging is fundamental.”
For Alier, a company currently focused on recycling the fiber recovered from beverage cartons, the collaboration presents an opportunity to become an integrated recycler.
Alier intends to invest in local facilities to establish a mechanical recycling capability for managing PE and aluminum packaging waste.
Elisabet Alier Benages, president at Alier, emphasizes the importance of efficient waste management and sustainable collaboration, stating, “we seek to expand the horizon of opportunities for the rest of the industry stakeholders, and for this, efficient waste management is essential, as well as joining forces to achieve it sustainably.”
“As a certified B corporation, we are very excited about this agreement with Tetra Pak, as it is a great step in pursuing sustainability and zero waste.”
